Benjamin "Ben" Harrison Howard Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Benjamin Harrison Howard went to be with his Lord and Savior, Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at the Missouri Veterans Home. Ben was born at home in Oak Ridge, Missouri on February 18, 1920, to Benjamin H. Howard, Sr., and Pearl Tracy (Wills) Howard. His father had passed away only days prior to his birth on January 25, 1920, at the age of 29, due to the flu epidemic. In 1925 his mother, Pearl Tracy Wills Howard married Mr. Ephrum Roberts. Mr. Roberts had four children, Joann, Beryl, Bobbie, and Patsy. Being a member of a large family during the depression era presented its challenges. Ben was taken out of school on several different occasions to work on relatives’ farms. Finally, in 1939, at a CCC Camp in Bunker, Missouri Ben attending school during the day, completed his schooling and graduated at age 20 from Central High School in 1940. On November 24, 1942, Ben married Virginia Limbaugh. November 30, 1942, he was inducted into the Army; departing for Europe October 4, 1943 to serve his country in WWII. He was in the 3624 QM Truck Co., a transportation outfit attached to General Eisenhower’s headquarters in London, England. Ben drove heavy trucks and served in England, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Holland, and Germany. He was awarded a Bronze Star for the Rhineland Campaign, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Purple Heart. Ben’s tour of duty ended Christmas day, 1945. Upon returning home, he worked for McDowell Motor & Buchanan Buick before embarking on a 29-year career with National Life and Accident Ins. Co., retiring March of 1982. Ben stayed very active following his retirement. He was a rural mail carrier, sold real estate for Century 21, managed apartments in Alaska the winter of ’85-’86, Superintendent at Juarez Petroleum for 4 years, and drove rental cars for both Enterprise and Honda in his early 90’s. Ben was a lover of the outdoors. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, canoeing, and going to the quiet of the country where he was raised. Ben had a great appreciation for music, listening to everything from country to classical. He also enjoyed strumming his guitar. Ben was a life member of the VFW and a member of the American Legion. Ben was devoted to his Lord. He read his Bible faithfully and lived out the word. He was a member of the Church of the Nazarene in Cape where he taught adult Sunday school and served on the church board. Ben is survived by his daughters, Beverly Howard (Jim) Hart of Montrose, CO, and Rebecca Howard Sams of Cape Girardeau; 5 grandchildren, Christopher Ervin (Shirley) of Winston Salem, NC, Heather Hart (Larry) Clamp of Montrose, CO, Phillip Hart of Montrose, CO, Will Sams of Kearney, Nebraska, and Katy Sams of Cape Girardeau; 5 great grandchildren, Gunnison, Zachary, Joseph, and Greta-Jane Clamp, all of Montrose, CO, and Wolfgang Ervin of Winston Salem, NC; half-sister, Patsy Roberts Huntsman. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Virginia Howard, October 30, 1999; daughter, Jean Ellen Britz; three sisters, Jeanette Howard Fuqua, Imogene Howard Brown, and Vivian Howard Bradford; half siblings, Joanna Roberts Granger, Beryl Thomas Roberts and Bobbie E. Roberts. A memorial service will be Saturday, May 1, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at First Church of the Nazarene in Cape. Burial with full military rites will follow at Lorimier Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to the SEMO Food Bank or the Salvation Army.

Tributes

Benjamin "Ben" Harrison Howard

February 18, 1920 - December 30, 2020